Natalie jacobson -flanked by Dick Albert and Mike Lynch after saying good bye during her last broadcast as aanchor at WCVBTV%
Photo courtesy WCVB
saved in photo thurs/max

(08/08/02-Needham,MA) Friends for years, this duo will now tag team the evening Weathernews casts of WCVB TV5. LTOR Meteorologist Harvey Leonard (ex of WHDH Ch7) and his long time friend and Ch5 Meteorologist Dick Albert share a laugh during a photo shoot.(080802weathermg-Staff Photo: Mark Garfinkel.(SavedPhto1/AdvTV)

(Boston, MA) Dick Albert, who spent 31 years as co-chief meteorologist at WCVB-TV, is seen on Monday, October 15, 2012. Staff photo by Christopher Evans

Channel 5 weatherman Dick Albert, a beloved personality during the golden era of local television news, whose quirky charm and creativity colored his daily forecasts, was recalled yesterday as a one-of-a-kind original and a rare “New England treasure.”

“He was the absolute best person in the world to work with,” said Natalie Jacobson, a former news anchor and a legend in her own right.

“He treated everyone with respect and kindness. He was an ace. He was beloved by people everywhere because he loved the weather. He loved people. He loved life,” she said. “He was a treasure to New England.”

A Newton native affectionately known as “Dickie,” Albert spun his WCVB weather newscasts with a flair for coining phrases like an “F and D” day — or fine and dandy — or the popular “BICO” for “Baby it’s cold outside.”

Albert, who died yesterday at 73 from complications from pneumonia, retired in 2009 after a 31-year career at WCVB. He leaves his wife, Mary Ann and two sons, Marc and Matt. The couple had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

Friends remembered Albert as a funny, entertaining presence who loved the weather and adored people. And he lit up the newsroom the same way he brightened his forecasts of the notoriously fickle New England weather.

“He was true to his personality. He was one of a kind,” said Channel 5 chief meteorologist Harvey Leonard. “You didn’t forget Dick if you grew up watching him. You could tell he loved what he was doing.”

“For me, the loss is not only of a great colleague and legend. It’s truly like losing a brother,” Leonard said.

Albert won multiple regional Emmys and the prestigious Silver Circle Award for Lifetime Achievement by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2004. He was voted the second most popular weathercaster in the nation by “Television/Radio Age” in 1987, WCVB reported.

Albert also made an effort to visit schoolchildren each week to teach them about the weather.

“Many people went into meteorology because of Dick Albert,” Jacobson said.

Bill Fine, WCVB president and general manager, said, “Everyone at WCVB is heartbroken by the passing of our very dear friend and esteemed colleague.

“He was an outstanding meteorologist and the expert who our community turned to for critical weather information for more than 30 years,” Fine said.

“He was widely acknowledged as the ‘dean’ of New England weather … and rightfully so. His love for and dedication to weather was surpassed only by his love and dedication to his wonderful family; his wife Mary Ann, their sons Marc and Matt, and their families. We send our deepest sympathy, prayers, and much love to the Albert family, and Dick will be forever in our hearts and memories.”

Kathleen McKiernan is an award-winning journalist who joined The Boston Herald in May 2016 where she has focused on education, homelessness and breaking news in the city of Boston. Before the Herald, she spent three years covering local government, education and human services in Western Massachusetts for The Recorder. Her reporting on domestic violence in Franklin County won an award from the New England Society of News Editors. She also spent a year covering urban education, poverty, city politics and gender issues in New Bedford for The Standard-Times. McKiernan is interested in how public policy impacts people, education reform, welfare and housing policy. She has a Masters of Public Administration from Westfield State University and a bachelor's in journalism and political science from the University of Rhode Island. She is originally from Cranston, Rhode Island. When she is not working, you can find her practicing Bikram yoga, training in Brazilian jiu jitsu or checking out a local brewery.

Kathleen McKiernan is an award-winning journalist who joined The Boston Herald in May 2016 where she has focused on education, homelessness and breaking news in the city of Boston. Before the Herald, she spent three years covering local government, education and human services in Western Massachusetts for The Recorder. Her reporting on domestic violence in Franklin County won an award from the New England Society of News Editors. She also spent a year covering urban education, poverty, city politics and gender issues in New Bedford for The Standard-Times. McKiernan is interested in how public policy impacts people, education reform, welfare and housing policy. She has a Masters of Public Administration from Westfield State University and a bachelor's in journalism and political science from the University of Rhode Island. She is originally from Cranston, Rhode Island. When she is not working, you can find her practicing Bikram yoga, training in Brazilian jiu jitsu or checking out a local brewery.